What’s it like at St. John’s in DC?
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Anonymous
| How Catholic is it for a non-Catholic student? (do those get in? I feel like I know some families whose kids are there who aren't Catholic but not sure how much of an anomaly they are). Also wondering how welcome kids of same sex parents feel. thx! |
Anonymous
Trying to escape the DC publics but refusing to move to the suburbs at any cost, eh? |
Anonymous
Came here to ask the same question! We also attended the open house and while DH and I were impressed, DD was not. The fine arts offerings were disappointing, even though the art studios were beautiful. She was excited about the wide range of clubs and extracurriculars though, so we may still apply. But coming from a much smaller, non-religious independent school (and we’re not catholic) so wondering how a non-catholic would fit in? |
Anonymous
Didn't realize I should expect shaming for considering independent schools on the.....independent schools board. Thanks for the super helpful feedback on the school! 
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Anonymous
Non Catholics get in and it is accepting of same sec parents but it is a Catholic school and doesn’t apologize for it and I hope it never waters itself down. |
Anonymous
What is offensive is these people asking “how Catholic” is a Catholic school. Change that religion to Jewish and how does that sound? |
Anonymous
Go to a school that has a religious founding but has abandoned all belief discipline like a Friends school or an Episcopalian school and leave the Catholics be. |
Anonymous
I always think of that too. All the non-Catholics want to use the Catholics to get a quality education on the lower price tag side--but then wants to bash them every other way. It's a Catholic school. There will be mass. There will be required religion courses and service requirements. They are welcoming, but primarily serve Catholic students. I would hope the people coming to use the schools for the education would at least be respectful of the religion. |
Anonymous
I apologize for offending anyone. Not my intent at all, but I acknowledge that I may have had that impact which is more important. I asked it in that way because in the past when I've considered a different Catholic education institution, the leadership there used it as a way to define how much of a daily impact the Church has on student life. Does it impact the books that are read and discussed? Is there sex ed, and how is it handled? Is there daily prayer/chapel? Does a non-Catholic feel very separate from the school culture and social life? Does someone whose family structure is often not welcomed by the Church feel that way at school every day? |
Anonymous
I don't think asking about the daily impact of the Church at the school is an indication of a lack of respect for the religion. It's a curiosity about a community and school that would be very new to us so I'm trying to understand. I didn't indicate any bashing of the religion or its followers. |
Anonymous
The Jesuit schools are LBGTQ friendly and tend to be more socially liberal. That said, they still have Mass. They still require a Religion course all 4-years. The values of helping others, service, etc. are very big. It's a very traditional liberal arts education. Courses are not taught through the eyes of religion, science is science. History is history. They aren't molding kids to a certain train of thought. In fact, the Jesuit principle is always questioning. St Johns isn't a Jesuit institution so I can't speak to it. |
Anonymous
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I don’t know any non- Catholics there personally but I know they are there. How comfortable they feel often depends upon the child and their exposure to formalized religion. There is a prayer at the start of classes. There is Mass, though not weekly as there is in K-8. Religion classes are usually taught in a historical, thought provoking (philosophical) way.
Like in all Catholic schools around the DMV, most people don’t care if you were actually Catholic only that you respect or at least don’t complain about what is being taught and the other factors that make it Catholic. |
Anonymous
Not sure what race has to do with anything but SJC is very diverse. It’s a fantastic community and very down to earth. |
Anonymous
The Jesuit order is more liberal and LGBTQ friendly but that is not so about Jesuit HS's in the ADW. STJ has a LGBT alliance, dress code/hair can be opted out if you are non-binary. Most kids are LGBT friendly, the few that are not are outliers. |
Anonymous
Yes. That can be shocking to some kids at open house/shadow days. |